What happens when you steal? This little lesson in morality is told with humor and some suspense. Though message books are out of style, this one speaks directly to the notion of the wages of sin. The artist's underwater greens and scenes look amazingly like Homage to Leo Lioni's Big Fish Little Fish. 4 & up.

When Justin lost a hat his Grandmother made for him, his mother insists that he needs to take better care of his things. Justin takes this to heart and discovers a Lost and Found box in Mr. Rumowsky’s office. Each trip into the giant box has its own fears that are overcome. Justin brings forth treasures for others, but not his own missing hat. Still, when Gram comes visiting Justin has a hat that appears to be the missing one. 7 & up.

Age: Early School Years.
Award Year: 2012.
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Everyone in the family will enjoy dipping into this compendium of interesting facts about the tallest, deepest, most, least and other such trivia. As always the colorful pages of this annual are crammed full of stats and facts that will inform and entertain. 8 & up.

Age: Early School Years, Later School Years, Tweens.
Award Year: 2012.
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Newest in a series of that lovable cat Splat. This time, Splat's little friend Seymour is sick and Splat tries to cheer him up by telling him all the things Seymour has done for Splat. He finishes each amusing event by thanking Seymour for his help. An amusing picturebook about friendship. 4 & up.

A cardboard picturebook for toddlers. There is a cutout in the middle with a smiling pink-cheeked face. But with every turn the creature with that face changes from star to fish to sun to dumpling and so many other familiar things. Each is told good night. Toddlers will soon like "reading" this book since the repetition makes for easy imitation. They may not recall the names of each of the pictured items, but they will like pretending to be able to read. 1-3

When Penny receives a gift from her Gram, she is thrilled to have a pretty new doll. But what is the doll's name? Papa says she will find the right name and Penny does exactly that. An easy to read book that beginning readers, who are fond of dolls, will relate to and find success reading. Level 1.

Age: Early School Years.
Award Year: 2012.
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An amusing, if predictable, story about Dixie, a dog who wants to run in the relay race with her girl, Emma. When Emma drops the baton you know who is going to cross the finish line. Told with a minimum of words for the true beginner. Lively and light reading for building success. Level 1.

Age: Early School Years.
Award Year: 2012.
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This is one of the new Curious George books written in the style of the original. The stories are less complex and sometimes a bit didactic, though this one manages to make a thank you notes into something that might be fun. When George receives a thank you note for a birthday gift he likes the idea, especially putting stickers on cards. Any story that instills the idea of saying thanks for gifts strikes this reviewer as a positive idea. Great literature it is not--but it does make a good story that can be followed up with stickers, paper, markers and thank-you notes for holiday gifts. Also see, Splat says Thanks You!

We notice that online there is a book with stationary package. That looks like a great combo for followup fun.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years.
Award Year: 2012.
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Young science that will captivate preschoolers. Each animal is on the brink of an action. A chameleon with a long tongue spots a grasshopper. What happens next? Turn the half page and zap the grasshopper is about to be history. A bee is in a patch of flowers. What happens next? Turn the half page and see inside the hive. This action packed little book is playful, suspenseful and full of information. Also see Who Lives Here? from the same team. Flip the flaps and find out who lives in a variety of habitats. 3 & up.

Goldilocks seems to have been in the air this season with several new variations on the classic story. Allan Ahlberg, the creator of the Jolly Postman, has done a collection of amusing versions, one with not three but thirty-three Bears. Among the several stories is a pop-up play, one with a cottage that grows into a tall house and several other stories with pull the tab variations. This is a novelty book with some entertaining surprises for kids who know the original tale and may like making up further adventures of their own for these classic characters.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years.
Award Year: 2012.
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